Saturday, March 19, 2022
11:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Opening Panel
How Can Self-Publishing Work for You?
11:05–11:50 PM
Self-publishing continues to open myriad new possibilities for writers. This discussion spotlights the different paths taken by a select group of indie-authors to find success.
Reading a Book By Its Cover
11:55 AM–12:10 PM
The right cover design can make or break your book. In this panel a team of graphic artists will critique book covers submitted by attendees, pointing out pitfalls to avoid and providing tips to help your book standout.
Amy M. Carlin has been an avid reader since childhood, devouring literature of any and every genre. Amy has been typesetting and editing since high school and received an editing minor from Brigham Young University in 2013. Since that time, Amy has added cover design and audiobook narration to her skill set. Amy also loves yoga and music, has classical vocal training, and enjoys acting in occasional stage and film productions. She lives in Springville, Utah, with her sword-wielding husband and two cats.
Breakout Sessions I
12:15–12:40 PM | 12:50–1:15 PM
In back-to-back rounds of breakout sessions, choose between Amazon Best Practices and Achieving Picture Book Success at 12:15 PM, followed by a choice between Beyond Amazon and Making Your Mark in Nonfiction at 12:50 PM.
Amazon power-sellers offer point-by-point explanations of how the mega retailer operates and detail steps to take to optimize your book’s performance on the site.
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Mike Bray is CEO of Wolfpack Publishing. He is also a 24-year veteran internet marketer and a search engine optimization expert. Under Bray’s leadership and with his focus on rapid growth, the company has grown from a two-man operation focused on introducing out-of-print western fiction to the digital world to four imprints servicing multiple genres with a combination of both back-list and front-list titles. |
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Clayton Noblit is a senior marketing manager at Written Word Media. He is passionate about helping authors find their readers and finding ways to sell more books. When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing sports, and making beverages. |
Guest authors and illustrators examine what makes a picture book pop and discuss strategies for attracting readers.
 | Spike Adams is a retired Colorado judge and DIY publisher of his late son’s posthumous book, The Mask, a best Indie book of 2021 by Kirkus Review. Learn more at cjsparrowpublication.com. |  |
 | Thomishia Booker launched Hey Carter! Books after being disappointed in the lack of representation of Black boys in children’s books. Her brand and books are inspired by her son, Carter, and focused on building self-identity in young Black boys. Her vision is to curate a series filled with “happy Black children loving their happy Black Lives!” Recently, Thomishia’s book, Brown Boy Joy, was featured in the Netflix original series, Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices. She was the only indie author among the cast of celebrities and New York Times bestselling authors, Jacqueline Woodson and Derrick Barnes. Her book was chosen for Bookmarks using a social justice education framework and as such it has received the endorsement of the Black Caucus American Library Association and the Association for Library Service to Children. Thomishia is a member of Building Leaders and Activists with Collective Knowledge, a group of Black authors in the Bay Area working to decolonize educational spaces. She tells stories of difficult lessons learned, self-doubt, and connecting with her community. Apart from her literary life, Thomishia is a licensed therapist and works full time as a healthcare administrator. |  |
 | Erin Nelsen Parekh has worked in magazine and book publishing as a writer, editor, and copywriter with both indie and traditionally published authors. In 2016 she raised $17,000 on Kickstarter to fund a Shakespeare-for-babies board book. Published on-time and on-budget 5 months later, Behowl the Moon garnered favorable reviews in Publishers Weekly, Literary Review, and the Houston Chronicle, and was named among Kirkus Reviews‘ best indie picture books of the year. She then crowdfunded the second book in the series, The Wild Waves Whist, a Kirkus-starred best indie picture book of 2019. Erin is a freelance editor and copywriter and currently developing a novel and several picture books. She is a member of SCBWI and lives in Houston, Texas. |  |
 | Naibe Reynoso is a Mexican-American, multi-Emmy award-winning journalist based in Los Angeles, California. In 2018 she created Con Todo Press, a publishing company celebrating diverse cultures. Her first children’s book, Be Bold, Be Brave, was an Amazon #1 best seller and was awarded best nonfiction picture book in the 2020 International Latino Book Awards. It was also a 2020 Moon Beam Gold winner and was listed on the Tejas Star Reading 2021–2022 list. In 2021 her first fiction book, How to Fold a Taco, won the Publishers Weekly Selfies inaugural grand prize in the children’s category. Additionally, Reynoso is the author of the bestselling Disney Encanto, a Little Golden Book, and Antonio’s Amazing Gift, both published by Disney Books. |  |
Amazon isn’t the only game in town. This session will consider the worthwhile options open to indie-authors beyond Amazon as well as cover where authors could and should be selling their books.
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Paige Allen is a brand and marketing strategist developing innovative channels for content delivery. She partners with companies and executives to sharpen their professional operations, define their brand identity, and engage audiences for maximum conversion. Her work spans across various industries, including but not limited to airport technology, sports teams and facilities, and legal practices. Paige knows what truly drives conversions and brand engagement; she is passionate about helping people and connecting companies to their right consumer. After nearly a decade of working within digital marketing agencies, she brings her expertise to Ingram Content Group as the Director of IngramSpark. Paige attended Vanderbilt University and is a trained Sweet Adelines International a cappella barbershop singer and member of Metro Nashville Chorus. | |
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Karen Anderson has been in the book world for the last 25+ years and is known for her sound, practical advice, delivered with the straightforward style of a good friend. She helps authors reach their markets, connect with readers, and build their businesses using the power of a book! Karen has self-published, been traditionally published, and worked for a traditional publisher. She is an Associate Publisher with Morgan James Publishing (a “hybrid” publishing model), a Strategic Book Coach, and a USA Today and Wall Street Journal best-selling author. |  |
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Enrique Parrilla is the Chief-Editor of Publishers Weekly en Español and CEO of the Lantia Group of Companies. He has been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, El País and many other local and international outlets. His company won the Red Herring Award for top innovative companies in Europe in 2015 and then again in 2016 as one of the top 100 innovative companies in the world. He has lectured on the ins and outs of the publishing industry in the London Royal Society; the IBM R&D Center in Boulder, CO; the Frankfurt Book Fair; Book Expo America; and designer the largest European on-demand book production and distribution operation. Enrique is also an award-winning author thanks to his children’s book, The Little Migrant. | |
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Marcus Woodburn is responsible for Ingram Content Group’s software services that help thousands of publishers from around the world manage, distribute, market, and sell eBooks and audiobooks. He brings more than 15 years of knowledge in digital publishing, sales, and distribution including the fast-evolving audiobook space. Before entering the content world, he spent 12 years working as an archaeologist and photographer in the Middle East and South America. |
A panel of successful nonfiction indie-authors touch on critical topics particular to nonfiction writing, including establishing author expertise, making the most of research, and creating a book that stands out from the crowd.
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Anthony Blankenship was born to a teenaged, unwed mother and a father who would later serve time in prison. His home life exposed him to violence, drugs, and poverty at a young age. At 15, struggling with unhealed mental and emotional wounds, Anthony committed a crime that nearly cost him his life. He used that low point to slingshot himself forward, focusing on growth, accountability, and evolution. Today, the former Army officer has found his golden zone. He’s a happily married father of two, who has developed a philosophy that has allowed him to heal and lead his family into health, happiness, and prosperity. |  |
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Sabreet Kang Rajeev is a first-generation Indian American of Sikh descent. Sabreet is a full-time researcher and health insurance specialist for the federal government. She holds a MA in Sociology from the University of Maryland and is currently completing her doctorate at the University of Baltimore. Throughout her life, Sabreet experienced the beauty and struggle of being part of a blue-collar immigrant family, and she is driven to raise awareness and empathy for a minority group of Indian Americans who do not historically come from educational or economic privilege. Generation Zero is her first book. Learn more by visiting sabreetkangrajeev.com. |  |
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Inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for her invention of the sports bra, Lisa Z. Lindahl is also an artist, entrepreneur, and author of two books. In addition to launching what is now a 9 billion dollar industry, the invention of the sports bra is considered a primary factor in the remarkable rise of women athletes worldwide, leading to a shift in perspective of what is possible for women in all sectors. Lisa’s latest book highlights her journey and the impact her invention has had on the world: Unleash the Girls: The Untold Story of the Invention of the Sports Bra and How It Changed the World (& Me). Lisa holds a Master’s degree in Culture and Spirituality and is a thought leader, culture watcher, and commenter focusing on women’s health advocacy. For more information, visit LisaLindahl.com. |  |
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Patrick O’Neil is the author of the memoirs Anarchy At The Circle K (forthcoming from Punk Hostage Press), and Gun, Needle, Spoon (Dzanc Books). He is the co-author of two instructional writing manuals, The Sentences That Create Us: Crafting A Writer’s Life in Prison (Haymarket Books), for PEN America’s Prison and Justice Writing Program and Writing Your Way to Recovery: How Stories Can Save Our Lives (Independent Press). His writing has appeared in numerous publications, including: Juxtapoz, Salon, and Razorcake. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University Los Angeles and teaches creative writing at various institutions and colleges. |  |
Pitch Perfect
1:15–1:30 PM
A well-crafted pitch can get your book noticed. In this session, PR professionals and agents will critique book descriptions submitted by attendees to show how a perfect pitch can open up opportunities.
Jane Friedman has spent nearly 25 years working in the book publishing industry, with a focus on author education and trend reporting. She is the editor of The Hot Sheet, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, which was named 2020 Media Outlet of the Year by Digital Book World. Learn more at JaneFriedman.com.
Second Panel
Authenticity in Storytelling: Writing it Right
1:35–2:20 PM
Creating characters and situations beyond our own lived experiences that are believable and reflect today’s cultural sensitivities presents a formidable challenge. This panel emphasizes the importance of getting it right. Learn the best ways to achieve authenticity in your work, including the potential use of sensitivity readers and having an understanding of #OwnVoices stories to ensure that every character and book can have the most impact.
Renee Harleston is a sensitivity reader and founder of Writing Diversely. Prior to becoming a sensitivity reader, Renee followed her fascination with American history and culture, which led her to work in museum education and history nonprofits. Renee received her M.A. in Cultural Anthropology at Hunter College and her B.A. in Marketing at Pace University. She lives in Brooklyn by way of Florida and Virginia with her cat Sunday Blue. She’s fond of candy, imperfect women, and magic.
Chloe Liese writes romances reflecting her belief that everyone deserves a love story. Her stories pack a punch of heat, heart, and humor and often feature characters who are neurodivergent like herself. She is best known for her slow-burn, family saga contemporary romance series, The Bergman Brothers. When not dreaming up her next book, Chloe spends her time wandering in nature, playing soccer, and, most happily, at home with her family and mischievous cats.
Marshall Thornton writes several popular mystery series, most notably the Boystown Mysteries and the Pinx Video Mysteries. He has won the Lambda Award for Gay Mystery three times. His romantic comedy, Femme, was also a 2016 Lambda finalist for Best Gay Romance. Other books include My Favorite Uncle, The Ghost Slept Over, and Fathers of the Bride. He is a member of Mystery Writers of America.
Break
2:20–2:45 PM
Third Panel
Know Your Genre, Know Your Audience
2:45–3:30 PM
Never underestimate the importance of knowing your genre and audience. During this session, authors talk strategies for identifying where your book fits in.
Karen Booth is the author of more than 40 contemporary romances full of breathless kisses, messy family dynamics, and more than a few things she’s glad her grandmother never read. She is the co-founder of the 4500+ member Facebook reader group, Seasoned Romance, dedicated to the promotion of romance with characters well over the age of 35. A midwestern girl transplanted in the South, Karen was raised on ’80s music and repeated readings of Forever by Judy Blume. In her spare time, she indulges her cat, snuggles with her husband, and texts too much with her two college-age kids.
Reading a Book By Its Cover II
3:30–3:45 PM
The right cover design can make or break your book. In this panel a team of graphic artists will critique book covers submitted by attendees, pointing out pitfalls to avoid and providing tips to help your book standout.
Becky Rodriguez-Smith has been a graphic design professional for 18 years, and has helped thousands of independent authors and musicians bring their creative visions to life. As the Director of Design Services at BookBaby, the nation’s fastest-growing self-publishing company, she inspires and mentors a team of designers dedicated to transforming raw manuscripts and cover concepts into professional published books. She lives in Philadelphia, PA where she enjoys crafting with her family.
Breakout Sessions II
3:50–4:15 PM | 4:25–4:50 PM
In back-to-back rounds of breakout sessions, choose between Are Reviews and Contests Worth It? and Landing an Agent at 3:50 PM, followed by a choice between Becoming a Social Media Master and Why You Need an Editor at 4:25 PM.
Reviews and contests can boost the profile of your book, help you improve its quality, and boost your marketing plan. This session will help indie authors find the best opportunities and avoid getting scammed along the way.
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Kilby Blades is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. Her debut novel, Snapdragon, was a HOLT Medallion finalist, a Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize semi-finalist, and an IPPY Award medalist. She’s been lauded by critics for “easing feminism and equality into her novels” (IndieReader) and “writing characters who complement each other like a fine wine does a good meal” (Publishers Weekly). When she’s not writing her own novels, she teaches craft and the business of writing at the Berkeley Writing Salon. Kilby is an oenophile, a cinephile and, most of all, a glutton for a good story. |  |
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Sarah Hawkins is the Collection Development Manager for Anoka County Library, a suburban public library system located in the Twin Cities metro area. She also manages the statewide local author initiatives MN Writes MN Reads and the Minnesota Author Project on behalf of Minnesota’s public libraries. | |
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Tim (TJ) Slee is a past winner of the Allen & Unwin Ink Short Fiction Award, Publishers Weekly‘s BookLife Prize, the HarperCollins Banjo Prize for Australian Fiction, and twice winner of Best Political Thriller at the Readers’ Favorite Awards. His novel Taking Tom Murray Home will be released by HarperCollins USA in June 2022. |  |
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Sandra (Sandy) Poirier Smith is the president of Smith Publicity, Inc., an award-winning book promotion company dedicated to helping authors, experts, and publishers create awareness about their books and expertise through media coverage. Celebrating 25 years in business in 2022, Smith Publicity has promoted thousands of authors and publishers since 1997—from seasoned New York Times bestsellers to debut titles. Sandy’s passion is working with clients to create and execute tailored book publicity strategies. She regularly writes and speaks at book industry events on the topics of book marketing and author/expert promotion. She earned a BS in Art and an MBA from Northeastern University. Find Sandy on LinkedIn. |
A distinguished panel of literary agents will discuss what they’re looking for in query letters and pitches, what makes a letter or pitch stand out, and what best practices to follow when contacting an agent.
 | Mark Coker serves as Chief Strategy Officer at Draft2Digital, the world’s leading publishing platform for indie authors. Draft2Digital helps 250,000 authors and small independent presses around the world publish and distribute 900,000 ebooks and over 10,000 print books. Mark is the founder of indie ebook pioneer Smashwords, which was acquired by Draft2Digital on March 1, 2022. Mark is an outspoken advocate for self-published authors, a former contributing columnist for Publishers Weekly, and the host of the SMART AUTHOR podcast where he teaches evergreen best practices to help authors publish ebooks with pride, professionalism, and success. Learn more about Draft2Digital at draft2digital.com. Mark blogs at blog.smashwords.com. Follow Mark on Twitter @markcoker. | |
 | Victoria Dillman is an associate literary agent with Howland Literary. Before Howland, Victoria was an assistant and foreign rights associate at Sobel Weber Associates and an intern at Linda Leith Publishing as well as a reader for the Community of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP) Awards. She holds a B.A. in English from McGill University and an MFA in Fiction from The New School. Her pronouns are she/her. | |
 | Wendy Keller is an award-winning former journalist, respected literary agent, author, speaker, and acclaimed book marketing consultant. Wendy has worked for PR Newswire; the Knight-Ridder newspaper chain; as managing editor of Dateline magazine; and as associate publisher of Los Angeles’ then-second-largest Spanish language weekly, La Gaceta. She founded what is now Keller Media, Inc., as ForthWrite Literary Agency in 1989. |
Successful authors share tips and strategies on how to grow your social media platforms and build an engaged audience.
 | Suzie Elliott is a social media manager and blogger. A Pinterest and Instagram specialist, she has worked with hundreds of authors, bloggers, and businesses all over the world to boost their social media platforms and grow their online presence. She lives in Birmingham, UK with her husband and loves writing, musical theatre, and exploring new places. | |
 | Janine Hernandez is a #1 bestselling author, speaker, and founder of the Book Publishing Academy. From the age of nine, Janine knew she’d become a world-famous, self-published author whose first-hand experiences would lend credibility to her work, and at the age of 26, Janine self-published her very first book. She coaches aspiring authors and speakers on how to self-publish their books. In 2011 Janine was awarded the Mitch Akin Mentor of the Year award for the New Pathways Program. Janine sits on the Board of Reach Family Services, a local, non-profit organization that focuses on assisting families raising children with behavioral health and emotional challenges. Janine received her Master of Arts in International Business from Western International University and currently resides in Phoenix, AZ. |  |
 | Sassafras Lowrey’s books have been honored by the American Library Association, the Lambda Literary Foundation and the Dog Writers Association of America. Sassafras is a full-time freelance writer and content creator whose work has appeared in leading publications including The New York Times, Catapult, WIRED, and with The American Kennel Club. Visit SassafrasLowrey.com. | |
 | Tiffany Richardson’s writing career has spanned over 15 years. She’s the author of one novel and three poetry collections. She’s well-versed in poetry, song writing, and all genres of literature. When she is not working on her own novels, she’s running Big Black Chapters, a movement and website started to promote and mentor indie authors of color, in partnership with her lifelong best friend. Tiffany hails from Houston, Texas, with roots in Louisiana. |
A panel of authors and editors will explain the importance of having a professional editor review your manuscript and how, with the help of a skilled editor, you can take your book to the next level.
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Alesha Brown is an award-winning entrepreneur, a book and magazine publisher, and the CEO of Fruition Publishing Concierge Services. She served as a magazine managing editor and celebrity interviewer for two digital magazines, before recently launching her own. She has been a podcaster since 2016 for multiple brands before hosting her own. She also serves as a non-profit executive, ghostwriter and copywriter for individuals as well as business to business. |  |
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Robin Cutler is the President of LMBPN Worldwide Publishing as well as the CEO of How To Publish Books.com, a consulting service for indie authors and publishers. Robin both created and led the development of IngramSpark, an international, award-winning self-publishing platform from 2013–2020. She has published over 1,000 books as Assistant Director at USC Press and as CEO and founder of her trade imprint, Summerhouse Press. Robin also worked for Amazon for six years.
Robin served on the board of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) from 2014–2018. She speaks frequently at writing and publishing conferences worldwide including Book Expo America, Frankfurt Bookfair, London Bookfair, SFWC, and NINC to name a few. Robin has in-depth knowledge of indie, academic, and trade publishing and is an expert in content creation, distribution, on-demand models, and author strategies. Currently, Robin is working on a screenplay. Follow Robin on Twitter @rcutlerbookpub or contact her at robin.cutler@lmbpn.com or robin@howtopublishbooks.com. |
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Nathan Roberson is the Editorial Director of Gotham Ghostwriters, where he manages an extensive network of writers, editors and book doctors working on a wide array of nonfiction and fiction. Prior to joining Gotham, he was a senior editor at Crown. | |
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Brooke Warner is publisher of She Writes Press and SparkPress, president of Warner Coaching Inc., and author of Write On, Sisters!, Green-Light Your Book, What’s Your Book?, and three books on memoir. Brooke is a TEDx speaker, weekly podcaster (of “Write-Minded” with co-host Grant Faulkner of NaNoWriMo), and the former Executive Editor of Seal Press. She writes a regular column for Publishers Weekly‘s BookLife. |  |
Pitch Perfect: Round II
4:50–5:00 PM
A well-crafted pitch can get your book noticed. In this session, PR professionals and agents will critique book descriptions submitted by attendees to show how a perfect pitch can open up opportunities.
Nathan Bransford is the author of the Jacob Wonderbar series (Dial Books for Young Readers) and How to Write a Novel. His writing and publishing blog has consistently been named one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers by Writers Digest. He works as a freelance editor in Brooklyn.
Fourth Panel
Ask the Experts Anything
5:00–5:30 PM
This is your chance to put your questions to the experts. Panelists from previous sessions will gather for this final opportunity to ask the experts anything!
